Jimmy Kimmel Apologizes To Quinta Brunson For Emmys Controversy: That Was A Dumb Comedy Bit That We Thought Would Be Funny

September 15, 2022 by Monique Nicole in TV with 0 Comments

Jimmy Kimmel Apologizes To Quinta Brunson For Emmys Controversy: That Was A Dumb Comedy Bit That We Thought Would Be Funny

Jimmy Kimmel has issued an apology to Quinta Brunson!

As you may already know, during the Emmys on Monday (September 12), the late-night host played dead on stage while Quinta Brunson, 32, accepted the award for Best Writing in a Comedy Series. Despite Quinta Brunson prompting him to stand up, Jimmy Kimmel, 54, didn’t move during her speech and remained laying down on the stage.

Although the joke was seemingly funny at first, viewers quickly slammed the comedian for not ending the skit once Quinta Brunson stepped on stage and accused him of taking away from Brunson’s moment.

Quinta Brunson

Following the ceremony, Brunson addressed the situation backstage and shared that, at the moment, she wasn’t mad and didn’t mind “too” much since Jimmy has always been a big supporter of hers. She said,

“I don’t know. I know Jimmy Kimmel. The bit didn’t bother me. Honestly, Jimmy gave me my first big late-night spot, he was one of the first people to see Abbott Elementary. He was the first person to message me on Instagram. He was so excited it was going to be on ABC. I was happy it was Jimmy. He’s one of the comedy godfathers. Tomorrow maybe I’ll be mad at him.”

See clip below:

Quinta Brunson addressed Jimmy Kimmel laying on stage during her #Emmys acceptance speech: "I felt like the bit didn’t bother me that much…Tomorrow maybe I’ll be mad at him. I’m going to be on his show on Wednesday, so I might punch him in the face." https://t.co/Bm8Bfhyi0k pic.twitter.com/cMDuZbq0AQ

— Variety (@Variety) September 13, 2022

On Wednesday night’s (Sept. 14) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the Emmy Award winner interrupted host Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue as payback for the comedic bit gone wrong during her acceptance speech at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.

She then asked Jimmy Kimmel to use the rest of his monologue to finish her acceptance speech from Monday. She thanked the Abbott Elementary fans, among others, as well as the show’s writers, whom she told:

“Now please go to bed, we have work tomorrow.”

After the commercial break, the two sat down and addressed the moment in a more serious manner. Kimmel took the time to explain his intent behind the joke and offered Brunson a sincere apology. He said,

“I do want to explain this for those who may be confused by this. That was a dumb comedy bit that we thought would be funny. I lost, and then I drank too much, and I had to be dragged out on the stage. And then people got upset. They said that I stole your moment, and maybe I did. I’m very sorry if I did do that — I’m sorry I did do that, actually. And also, the last thing I would ever want to do is upset you because I think so much of you, and I think you know that. I hope you know that.”

Quinta Brunson thanked Jimmy Kimmel for the apology, adding:

“I was honestly in such a moment of having a good time, like I won my first Emmy! I was up there happy, and I was wrapped up in the moment.”

Kimmel added that he was “so happy” to see Brunson take home the trophy, since he’s been

“a fan of the show since before it came out.”

Before the public apology, “Abbott Elementary” actress Sheryl Lee Ralph opened up about the controversial moment during Brunson’s acceptance speech.

Sheryl Lee Ralph, who won an Emmy of her own Monday, didn’t find the move appropriate. Ralph shared,

“I was absolutely confused. I didn’t know what was going on. I wish that man would just get up off the ground. Then I realized it was Jimmy Kimmel. Ooh, the disrespect, Jimmy! But that’s just me. I told him, too, to his face. He understood.”